The refrigerant on the discharge side of the compressor is in which state?

The refrigerant on the discharge side of the compressor is in a vapor state. This is because the primary function of a compressor in a refrigeration system is to increase the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant gas. When the refrigerant enters the compressor, it is typically in a low-pressure vapor state. As the compressor compresses this gas, it raises both the pressure and temperature, resulting in a high-pressure vapor being discharged.

In a vapor state, the refrigerant has a much larger volume compared to its liquid form, which is crucial for the functioning of the system. This high-pressure vapor then moves to the condenser, where it will eventually lose heat and condense into a liquid.

The other states, such as liquid and solid, are applicable at different points in the refrigeration cycle but not on the discharge side of the compressor. The mixture state occurs in the evaporator or at certain junctions where both liquid and vapor exist, but once the refrigerant has been compressed, it is firmly in the vapor state.